Prof. Given, Director, opened the meeting at 10:05 a.m. He noted that Profs. Stevens and Romer were unable to attend for personal reasons, and that Prof. Teske was teaching at the meeting time; Prof. Mazow reported that Prof. Saidel was also unable to attend. (Prof. Given took minutes in Prof. Stevens's absence.) Prof. Given welcomed Prof. Green back to ECU at the Whichard Chair in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Agenda Item 2. Current Classes

Prof. Given asked for reports on current courses.

Prof. Papalas reported that his two History courses were well-attended, with about 30 students in Greek History (HIST 3405) and 25 students in War & Society (HIST 3406). A number of Classics students are enrolled in both courses.

Prof. Green reported that his special Catullus seminar (LATN 3700) is going well, and remarked that that achievements of one alumna auditing the class were especially noteworthy.

Agenda Item 3. Upcoming Classes

Prof. Given stated that the program is offering a full slate of courses for the Fall 2009 semester. He noted in particular that CLAS 1300 (Etymology) and CLAS 3460 (Mythology) are being offered as 100-student lectures and encouraged committee members to direct their students to CLAS offerings, as well as all our other courses.

Agenda Item 4. Upcoming Lectures

Prof. Glenn Bugh of Virginia Tech will deliver a lecture on Friday, February 27 at 3:00 p.m. in Bate 1001. The lecture is entitled "Kevin Andrews and Greek History." Prof. Papalas stated that he will host Prof. Bugh and hopes to offer a reception in his honor.

Prof. Papalas suggested alerting North Carolina residents of Greek heritage about these events that concern modern Greek culture and literature. Prof. Papalas agreed to do this. Prof. Mazow also suggested working with the owners of the two Greek restaurants in Greenville to publicize these events.

Agenda Item 5. Upcoming Performances

Prof. Given reported that he has a six-student planning committee of "Odyssey LIVE!", a day-long performance of Homer's Odyssey. The performance will be done in English by students, with faculty contributions. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at the Cupola on the ECU Mall. It begins at 8:00 a.m. Prof. Given estimates that it will last until approximately 11:00 p.m. Profs. Green and T. Wilson-Okamura offered to perform as readers.

In connection with his Whichard Lecture, Prof. Green proposed a performance of two or three of Ritsos's poetic monologues. The idea was warmly received. Prof. Green will work with Prof. D. Wilson-Okamura, who may have students from his Shakespeare classes able to perform the monologues capably.

Agenda Item 6. Other Lectures. Prof. Given reported that an invited lecturer has had to decline, and he asked for further ideas. Prof. Green reported that Dr. Oswyn Murray of the University of Oxford would be speaking in Princeton later in the spring and was hoping to extend his lecture circuit in the States. He agreed to contact him and gauge his interest in visiting ECU. Prof. Papalas noted that our honorarium budget may be insufficient and proposed that we week additional avenues of funding. He also suggested working with Duke and/or Chapel Hill to arrange a multi-stop trip in North Carolina. [Director's Update: Dr. Murray will speak at ECU on April 23 and at UNC-Chapel Hill on April 24. The Program in Great Books and the Office of the Provost, along with the Classics Departments at UNC-CH and Duke are co-sponsoring the trip.]

Agenda Item 7. Consideration of ENGL 4830: Classical Rhetoric

With the one proviso, offered by Prof. T. Wilson-Okamura, that Aspasia not be listed as a rhetorician whose works can be studied, the Committee offered no objections to this course, especially because our program does not currently have a class in classical rhetoric.

Prof. Given asked the Committee to consider whether the course should be added to the Program's curriculum as an elective. Prof. Stevens stated, by e-mail, his objection that the course was not sufficiently directed toward Greek and Roman rhetoric to serve our students well. Prof. Fantazzi stated that the course does fill a gap in our offerings. Prof. D. Wilson-Okamura stated that, even if we do no include it formally among our electives, the Director has the discretion to approve the course for individual students who have an interest in the topic. After further discussion, a vote was taken. The result was a tie. The Committee asked Prof. Given to consult our absent members to ascertain their opinion. [Director's Update: After consultation, the Committee remained evenly divided. Prof. Given decided not to pursue the option of making the course an elective.]

Agenda Item 8. Senior Thesis Report. A student invited to give a report on his senior thesis did not attend.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.